Leadership and Work Design for Meaningfulness in the Age of AI
Short description
AI can change the tasks people perform without preserving the purpose, dignity and identity they find in their work. This project studies how generative AI copilots and emerging systems reshape meaningfulness across roles, teams and organisations, and which leadership and work-design choices help employees retain agency and belonging.
The research will connect employees’ experiences with the ways work is allocated and managed. It will examine feedback practices, coordination norms, job crafting and team routines, using longitudinal evidence and, where feasible, practical interventions. Its intended outputs include a multilevel model and guidance for leaders designing work that remains worthwhile as tasks and responsibilities change.
Interested in this project?
Postings are opening throughout autumn 2026.
The official university vacancy will be linked here as soon as it is published, with its application procedure and deadline.
Job advert coming soonYou may apply to up to four EMANAIRE doctoral projects. Submit a separate application for each position and briefly identify your other EMANAIRE applications, including any you intend to submit, in each motivation or cover letter.
What the project involves
- Examine how AI changes employees’ sense of meaning, dignity and identity at work.
- Identify leadership and work-design practices that support agency, purpose and belonging.
- Use longitudinal research to study feedback, coordination, job crafting and team routines, with scope for practical interventions.
- Develop a multilevel model and guidance for leaders redesigning work around AI.